Doubles partners Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau took the rest day from the competitive men’s draw to visit the Bombay Sapphire Lounge at the Sony Ericsson Open. The team became honorary “tennis mixologists,” as they received a lesson in crafting the tournament’s signature drink, the Sapphire Ace Collins.
 
Lindstedt and Tecau, who debuted their doubles team at the Miami tournament last year, reached the finals of Wimbledon in June 2010 and have since reached the No. 22 and No. 18 doubles rankings, respectively. The pair took opposite sides today, however, as they faced off to determine who reigns supreme behind the bar.
 
The “master mixologist” of the Bombay Sapphire Lounge, Gabriel Urrutia, instructed Lindstedt and Tecau on the craftsmanship required for the cocktail. The drink consists of fresh raspberries, a touch of simple syrup and fresh lemon juice, about a six-second pour’s worth of Blue Sapphire gin, all over ice and topped off with club soda.
 
“It’s great to have on a warm day,” said Urrutia as he built the demonstration Sapphire Ace Collins. Cristy Rice, who appears on the show Real Housewives of Miami, was on hand to judge the players’ cocktails.
 
After their tutorial, Lindstedt and Tecau took opposite ends of the bar in front of fans and patrons, to make the drink with speed, quality presentation and ultimate taste. The pair was at ease competing against each other. As Lindstedt said laughing, “we always do that in practice anyway, so it’s fine.”
 
Lindstedt and Tecau combined ingredients as Rice looked on. After Lindstedt went a touch heavy on the gin, she commented, “for yours, I’m scared,” to which Lindstedt replied, “I’m a strong boy.”
 
Rice called the first round a tie, and each player went on to seek his own edge for round two. Tecau delicately stirred his Sapphire Ace Collins and presented it with a skewer garnished with a cherry and orange, while Lindstedt wrapped a dollar bill around his for whimsical flare.
 
After a few moments of deliberation, the verdict came down: “If I mix both of them, that’s the perfect drink,” said Rice, adding that the pair made a great team at the bar, as well as on the court.
 
This was a new experience for both players, but they seemed to enjoy both the process and the friendly rivalry. “We get a day off, so we got done with our practice and now we can relax and do a little bit of something else. And coming here to the bar, mixing some drinks—it’s not so bad,” said Tecau.
 
“But, it’s a fun thing to do, not always the nine to five of tennis. It’s fun to interact with fans and to do something different,” Lindstedt agreed. “I have stood behind a bar before, but I’m much better in front of a bar,” he joked, but when asked what he thought of his concoction, Lindstedt replied, “I have talent! I have to say, I’m good at this. It scares me.”
 
Tecau was not convinced, however. “I thought mine—honestly, now—mine was better,” he said.